Garment presser with steam chaser



Aug. 11, 1970 G. M. BONALDI 3,523,331v

GARMENT PRESSER WITH STEAM CHASER Filed July 26. 1968 IN \ENTOR.

3,523,381 GARMENT PRESSER WITH STEAM CHASER `Giacomo M. Boualdi, 3655 Noriega St., Sau Francisco, Calif. 94122 Filed July 26, 1968, Ser. No. 747,894 Int. Cl. D061? 71/34; F24f 7/00 U.S. Cl. 38--2 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to garment pressing apparatus, A'and more particularly it relates to a combined safety and Ventilating system for use in combination with a conventional garment pressing machine for protecting the press operator from steam and radiant heat, by providing him with a continuous ow of cool air.

In a conventional garment pressing machine, the garment is subjected to steam in order to soften the material before it is pressed by the pressing element. This preliminary steaming is usually accomplished by placing the garment on the lower pressing ele-ment, which is known as the buck; moving the upper pressing element, which is called the head, downward until it is adjacent `to the garment; and injecting steam through :apertures in the face of a pressing element onto the garment. The confined space between the head and the buck forms a channel which directs the released steam out of the pressing machine directly towards the operator. Also, when badly wrinkled cloth is given a preliminary buck steaming with steam from the buck while the head of the garment press is open, steam spurting upwards from the buck is deflected towards the operator. In addition to the continuous ejection of steam, the pressing element ofthe presser becomes extremely hot and the operator is constantly subjected to radiant heat from the pressing machine even during the intervals when the garment is not being steamed.

The subjection of the operator of a garment presser to steam and heat for protracted periods often produces serious physical difficulties, particularly those of a respiratory nature. Furthermore, the clouds of steam and radiant heat interfere with the operators vision and greatly slow down his rate of work.

Although the aforesaid problem existed for many years in the garment pressing field no satisfactory solution was available prior to the present invention, and machines heretofore produced failed to provide any means for protecting the operator from steam and heat.

It is therefore :a general object of the present invention to provide an improved Ventilating system for a pressing machine and the like which will contribute materially to operator comfort, improved pressing quality, achieve cost reduction, and contribute materially to the safety of the operator. Another object of the present invention to provide a combined Ventilating safety device` for use on a pressing machine which provides a cool stream air around the press operator which continuously removes steam, heat, lint, and fumes.

In accordance with illustrative embodiments demonstrating objects and features of the present invention advantageously, a conduit means is provided which is attached to a suitable forced Aair creating device such as a United States Patent O 3,523,381 Patented Aug. l1, 1970 'ice blower, for drawing in air from a relatively cool environment and directing it so as to push away heated air and steam from the space around but particularly in front of the operator. My invention utilizes the tendency of heated air to rise, and of cooler air to seek a lower level by locating the intake blower of my system in an area generally well below the table level of the press.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a cool air stream and steam Chaser device that can be made either as an integral part of a garment pressing machine, or which can be manufactured as a portable device and attached to the presser machine. In either embodiment my device is light in weight, and the blower for creating an out-draft may be easily attached to the frame of the presser without requiring any structural changes on the machine. In a normal installation, the Aupper position of the conduit may be useful as a means for helping the operator in the manipulation of garments during pressing.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of one embodiment of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a view in perspective of .a typical garment pressing machine utilizing in combination therewith a Ventilating system embodying the principles of my inven? tion, and

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a modified form of my device for use with two garment pressing machines.

Referring to the drawing, a Ventilating device 10 embodying the principles of my invention is shown in FIG. 1 installed on a conventional garment pressing machine 12 0f the type that may be found in :almost any dry cleaning and pressing establishment. The garment pressing machine has a base support 14 for supporting the remainder of the machine and for housing the usual pressing level means and vacuum lines controlling the operation of the machine in response to foot pressure by the operator. A table 16 is supported on the base 14 and in turn the table supports a buck stand 18 and a buck 20' which is the stationary lower pressing element of the machine. A head 22 serves as the upper pressing element, and is mounted on a pressing level 24.

At the base support 14 of the pressing machine a blower 26 is mounted on a bracket 28 which may be -fixed lto the base support. The blower is driven by an electric motor and has an inlet end 30 which draws in surrounding air. In normal operation the blower runs at a constant speed that steadily draws in cool air.

Attached to the blower outlet is a conduit section 32 that extends upwardly through an aperture 34 in or around the end of the table 16. The upper portion of the conduit extends above the buck 18 and terminates near the front edge of the pressing machine roughly at the normal head level of the operator.

To the upper end of the conduit section 32 is connected an adjustable stack or outlet nozzle member 3-6 which can be adjusted upwardly or downwardly and/or rotated to any desired direction by the operator.

In a somewhat modified form of my invention, as shown in FIG. 2, a portable type of Ventilating device 10a is shown which may be placed near or be connected to a garment pressing machine in some suitable manner. Essentially, the device includes the motor-blower unit 26a from which extends a conduit section 32a that may be self supporting or may be clamped to the garment presser table by any convenient clamping device. At the outlet end of the conduit section, I may provide a twoway outlet stack member 36a so that air may be blown in two directions simultaneously to relieve operators of two pressers side by side.

In operation, the blower 26 or 26a, being located near to iioor draws in relatively cool air from around the lower part of the pressing machine through its intake. This air is forced upwardly through the conduit section end and emitted through the outlet member 36 in front of the operators face working at the front edge of the press. This dissipates the steam while driving away and cooling the normally hot, humid air around the operator, thereby greatly increasing his efficiency and comfort.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

1. A garment pressing machine having a stationary buck mounted on a base and a movable upper pressing head, the head and buck having opposing faces, the head and buck having means for releasing steam through said faces, and an accessory comprising a. driven blower positioned on the base of the machine adjacent the oor, a conduit secured to the outlet of said blower and extending upwardly therefrom to the upper region of the machine and supported thereon, adjustable means attached to the upper end of said conduit for directing cooling air from the blower away from the machine and generally in the vicinity of the operators face, to provided a cool air environment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,319,108 10/1919 Palmer 38-15 1,667,826 5/1928 Schremp 38-16 1,964,037 6/1934 Davis 38-15 2,029,112 1/1936 Maitzen 38-15 X 2,400,639 5/1946 Gayring 38-40 2,488,220 11/ 1949 Monsarrat 38-17 X 2,521,512 9/1950 Gayring 38-15 2,859,545 11/1958 Williams 38-15 X JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 38-17; 230-241 

